Combination sitting and sleeping piece



Feb. 28, 1961 u. A. WEIDNER 2,972,754

COMBINATION SITTING AND SLEEPING PIECE Filed Dec. 25, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 r" I I .52 J3" i \MF 35 lULlu I "rm UL l.mu lu Jim-l- F 1961 u. A. WElDNER 7 2,972,754

COMBINATION SITTING AND SLEEPING PIECE Filed Dec. 23, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 48 llllllh' j I v m 4mm. mun FFQJYTHIW'JJQ 14- 1 11 w .9 7

@Ja Z9 ya 2 United States Patent COMBINATION SITTING AND SLEEPING PIECE Urban A. Weidner, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Burton- Dixie Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 704,657

1 Claim. (Cl. 17)

The present invention relates to a convertible article of furniture and more particularly to a novel combination sitting and sleeping piece or article of furniture which may be readily converted from a sitting piece, such as a lounge, davenport, sofa or studio couch, into a bed.

The novel combination bed-lounge or sitting and sleeping piece disclosed herein is particularly adapted for use where limited space is available and Where the stationary frame section or base may be anchored or bolted to the floor and/or wall, and it is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel assembly comprising interconnected frame sections one of which is fixed and the other movable, and so constructed and arranged that when the movable frame section is retracted for use as a sitting piece or lounge, the seat thereof inclines rearwardly and downwardly for optimum sitting comfort, and when the movable frame section is extended to form a bed, the latter and its mattress are supported in a horizontal plane.

The present novel assembly further comprehends the provision of a novel convertible sitting and sleeping article of furniture having a stationary frame anchored to the floor and/or wall, a cabinet aflixed to or supported from the wall and provided with a cushion forming a backrest when the article is used as a lounge, and a movable frame slidably mounted on the stationary frame and movable to a position beneath said cabinet when the article is used a a lounge and withdrawn from beneath said cabinet when used as a bed, said movable frame provided with front supporting legs and guide means for controlling the path of movement whereby the forward end of the movable frame is elevated when being extended to form a bed or when being retracted to form a sitting piece to thereby prevent the legs from engaging the floor or rug except when fully extended or fully retracted.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel means and manner of slidably and adjustably supporting the movable frame assembly upon the stationary frame assembly whereby the former is retained in a plane inclined to the horizontal when the convertible article of furniture functions as a lounge or sitting piece, and is retained in a horizontal plane when extended to function as a bed.

In the present novel assembly, the stationary frame section is provided at its opposite ends with inclined tracks and the movable section is provided with rollers carried in said tracks, whereby the supporting surface and its cushion are rearwardly and downwardly inclined when providing a seat for the sitting piece, and when said article is converted to a bed the supporting surface and the cushion which then becomes the mattress are supported and retained in a horizontal position.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a combination sitting and sleeping piece constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing it converted to a lounge or davenport.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the frame assembly but with the covering therefor including the combination mattress and seat cushion removed.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the frame assembly of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the frame assembly of Figs. 2 and 3 taken from the right hand end thereof.

Fig. 5 is another view in end elevation of the frame assembly but with the movable frame withdrawn or extended to sleeping position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a corner of the frame assembly and showing the movable frame fully extended or withdrawn from the fixed or stationary frame for use as a bed.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section, the view being taken in a plane represented by the line 77 of Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. '7, part in side elevation and part in vertical cross section, showing the manner in which the movable frame section is slidably mounted and withdrawn or extended to provide a bed.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of the movable frame.

Fig. 10 is a view in end elevation of the end of the movable frame of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of an end of the stationary frame.

Fig. 12 is a view in end elevation of the end of the stationary frame of Fig. 11, with portions thereof broken away.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross section taken on substantially the line 1313 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross section through one of the supporting legs, the view being taken on substantially the line 1414 of Fig. 9 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 15 is a view in horizontal cross section taken on substantially the line 15-15 of Fig. 14, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and to the novel embodiment selected to illustrate the present invention, Fig. 1 shows the present assembly as a sitting piece or lounge 10 but which is readily convertible to a bed when the movable frame 11 thereof is extended from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5.

This combination bed-lounge is provided with a fixed and upholstered back-rest 12 shown as rearwardly inclined, the back-rest being pivotally connected to a builtin cabinet or book shelf 13 attached to the wall and providing a closure for the cabinet. The movable frame 11 is slidably and adjustably mounted upon a stationary base or frame 14 which is rigidly aifixed or anchored to the wall and/ or floor so that it remains stationary while the movable frame 11 is withdrawn or extended for sleeping (Fig. 5) and returned to the position of Figs. 1 and 4 when the bed is not in use. A removable seat cushion 15 provides a mattress covering the full width and length of the movable frame 11 to provide a comfortable bed.

The stationary frame 14 comprises end frames each consisting of spaced uprights 16 and 17 and a connecting member 18 supported'on the floor and joining the lower ends of these uprights, the members 16, 17 and 18 being preferably formed of angle iron and suitably reinforced by brace members 19. The end frames are connected by longitudinally extending bars or rails 21 and 22. Mounted on each end frame is a track 23 rigidly anchored at its rear or lower end 24 to the upright 17 and adjacent its front or elevated end 25 to the upright 16. As clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 12, this track is inclined upwardly and forwardly and at its forward end 25 is provided with a short downwardly and forwardly inclined section 26 into which a roller 27 drops when the movable frame 11 is withdrawn to its fully extended position (Figs. 5, 6 and 8).

By inclining the track 23 in the manner disclosed, the movable frame 11 and its cushion-mattress 15 are inclined rearwardly and downwardly when retracted to form a lounge or sitting piece, and when this movable frame is withdrawn to its extended position to provide a bed, the spaced rollers 27 and the frame 11 are disposed in a horizontal plane for optimum sleeping comfort. To facilitate withdrawal and return of the movable frame 11, the stationary frame 14 is provided at each end with a roller 28 against which the opposite ends of the movable frame ride and are held aligned and against end sway in the stationary frame.

The movable frame 11 includes a continuous cushionmattress supporting section 29 having spaced longitudinally extending side bars or rails 31 and 32, connecting end bars or rails 33 and 34, cushion-mattress supporting springs 35 and end supporting frame sections 36 and 37. Spaced upstanding abutments 30 for the rear of the cushion-mattress 15 assures withdrawal of the latter with the movable frame 11. The end frame sections are positioned inwardly of the end bars 33 and 3 4 and each consists of spaced uprights 38 and 39 and a bottom bar 41 rigidly connected and suitably reinforced by brace members 42, and a hollow leg 44 provided with an enlarged floor-engaging base 45 of natural or compounded synthetic rubber. At its upper end each leg is anchored to the bottom cross bar 41 by a transverse anchoring plate 46 and a bolt 47. To this cross bar or rail 41 is also secured the spaced threaded studs 48 each carrying a roller 27 and spacer 49, the studs being anchored to the cross bar 41 by a nut 51. Transverse brace members 52 also bridge the longitudinal side bars 31 and 32 to provide a rigid assembly.

The frame sections are preferably formed of angle members whereby the movable frame 11 and the stationary frame or base 14 each form a rigid assembly.

By means of the novel inclined track 23 at each end of the stationary frame, the legs 44 touch the floor or carpet only when the movable frame it is fully extended or withdrawn (Fig. or when it is fully retracted (Fig. 4). At other times the inclination of the tracks 23 and the rollers 27 riding therein maintain the forward or outer portion of the movable frame 11 elevated with the leg out of contact with the floor or carpet and thus reducing or eliminating wear incident to continuous use of this combination sitting and sleeping piece of furniture. Furthermore, by reason of the stationary frame or base 14 being rigidly anchored tothe floor and/or wall, the effort required to withdrawn the movable frame 11 for sleeping or to return it for sitting purposes is substantially reduced.

When the movable frame 11 is retracted, this frame and the cushion-mattress 15 are inclined rearwardly and downwardly as shown in Fig. 4, Whereas when the movable frame is withdrawn or extended to form a bed as shown in Fig. 5, the frame 11 and its cushion-mattress are disposed horizontally. Thus, in either position the occupant is assured of optimum comfort. In the extended or sleeping position of the movable frame 11, each forward roller 27 seats in the well 26 of each of the tracks 23 and is retained therein in latched position. To release the movable frame for its return from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 4, the outer end of this frame must be raised to elevate the forward roller 27 out of engagement before the frame may be returned to sitting position. The rollers 28 help to maintain alignment of the movable and stationary frames 11 and 14 and also facilitate their operation.

When the bed is fully extended the forward roller 27 engages a bumper 53 which is preferably of a res'dient material. In this extended position the spaced rollers 27 are horizontally aligned and whereby the movable frame is also positioned in a horizontal plane. As the tracks 23 substantially enclose the rollers 27 and the bottom of each track is of substantially V-shape to comformably receive the bevelled rollers 27, the parts are retained in assembled relation. I

It is to be understood that the movable frame when extended to form a bed is withdrawn from beneath the cabinet 13 and the cushioned backrest 12.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

In a combination bed and sitting piece capable of being converted from a lounge to a bed and back to a lounge and having a stationary back-rest, a horizontally disposed stationary frame, and a frame movably and slidably mounted upon said sationary frame and capable of providing a rearwardly inclined support for a seat when converted to a lounge and a substantially horizontal support for a mattress when converted to a bed, said stationary back-rest partially overlying said movable frame when in the lounge position, said stationary frame provided with spaced uprights and a track adjacent each end of the frame with each track joined at its ends to and bridging said uprights, each track being inclined rearwardly and downwardly through the greater portion of its length and inclined downwardly and outwardly adjacent its forward end to provide a well with an adjacent upright at each end, a resilient bumper on the forward uprights to provide a cushion in the well for each said track, said tracks being C-shaped channel members opening inwardly, said movable frame at its opposite ends having a front leg and rearwardly spaced supporting rollers received in and movable in said tracks when said movable frame is advanced or retracted, guide rollers mounted on the front uprights of said stationary frame and forwardly of said frame, said guide rollers contacting the outer edges of said movable frame to guide said movable frame between its extended and retracted positions, said legs being elevated as the movable frame is being moved to either of its positions of use and contacting the floor when the forward supporting rollers move into said wells and abut said resilient bumpers at the fully extended position of said movable frame, said spaced rollers at each end being disposed substantially in horizontal alignment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,056,166 Gillespie Mar. 18, 1913 1,783,530 Bebry Dec. 2, 1930 2,370,851 Eppenstein Mar. 6, 1945 2,738,520 Murphy Mar. 20, 1956 2,784,419 Cimon Mar. 12, 1957 

